The project to renovate and enhance basketball courts across England’s second biggest city has begun this summer after contractor Blakedown Sport and Play was appointed to carry out the work.
The sports facility construction firm has pedigree in refurbishing outdoor basketball courts, having worked on the 3x3 courts in Northampton’s Racecourse Park in 2023.
Seventeen locations are included in the project, which is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The majority of the courts are set to have a distinct purple and grey colourway painted to pay homage to the Birmingham 2022 court at Smithfield, where England won 3x3 gold and silver medals. Hamstead Playing Fields is the court that England and GB international Myles Hesson – who created one of the most watch moments of the Games, scoring the buzzer beater to sink Australia in the 3x3 gold medal game – played on as a youngster.
The locations are:
BE and its partners have made the significant financial investment to bolster the basketball infrastructure in the city to increase grassroots participation opportunities in both the 3x3 and 5v5 formats of the game and so that the outdoor courts can be enjoyed for generations to come.
“When the England men’s and women’s teams created basketball history at Birmingham 2022, winning gold and silver medals, we saw how it captured people’s attention and imagination.
“That summer, momentum for the sport changed and we wanted to ensure with Sport England and Birmingham City Council that everyone inspired by our athletes’ feats would have somewhere of their own to enjoy basketball and deliver a legacy from the Games
“Birmingham has a proud basketball history from the Bullets to the Rockets and produced a Commonwealth Games hero in Myles Hesson. The work to bring these courts up-to-scratch means we are making good on our promise to create free and accessible playing opportunities and will further cement Birmingham as a basketball city.”
“Uniting the Movement’s goal is to make sure everyone has the opportunity to play sport and get active - regardless of background, bank balance or postcode. It’s exciting to see the explosion in profile and popularity of 3x3 basketball; it’s an accessible, inclusive and most of all a fun way for communities to get active, and we’re proud to help deliver this sport in Birmingham.”
‘‘We are pleased to have formed the collaboration with Basketball England and Sport England to bring additional investment into local 3x3 basketball infrastructure across Birmingham’s parks, open spaces and youth centres.
“The Council committed to deliver a legacy from the B2022 Commonwealth Games and the refurbishment of 17 sites across the city will provide opportunities for our local communities to access and deliver basketball on their doorstep.
“The newly refurbished courts will have a more visible presence through their updated and colourful design, and we want to inspire the next generation of players through local activation and partnerships. A key priority for the Council is to ensure all communities benefit from the investment into local facilities and we are excited to see how these spaces are used and enjoyed for many years to come.’’
BE will work with StreetGames, Sport Birmingham, local basketball clubs and community organisations to launch and activate all the sites, providing free coached 3x3 sessions for local communities at each court.
The legacy will also form part of Basketball England’s #ProjectSwish campaign, which was launched in 2019 to improve and promote local spaces to play outdoors.
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